Spruce Things Up With an Archway

Alrighty, it’s time for our next post! We’re going to do something a little different for this one. Now, when you think of “interior design”, your mind probably wanders to things like furniture, rugs, and other accessories that you might place throughout your home. And typically, that’s what we’re talking about too. Recently, however, Kristin and I have been taking a little more of a hard-hat approach to my apartment. No, we weren’t knocking down walls or adding in a sunroof (although that would be awesome), we actually went about adding a bit of archway style to an otherwise bland foyer. The hallway when you first enter my apartment was kind of…ugly. Other than a few cool things hung on the walls, its ultimately a pretty barren and boring space.

No, not that kind of arch…

So, we looked up different ways to make things a little more interesting. Sure, paint or some kind of design on the wall might help, but that might only be a partial solution. Soon, we came across something far more interesting; did you know that there are companies out there that make specialized ceilings? I’m not talking about completely gutting your ceiling, but this one company, Archways and Ceilings, has specialized arch and ceiling kits, based on what exactly you’re looking for. They customize these do-it-yourself kits based on the measurements you need. Admittedly, it does look kind of daunting, but we’re excited to try it! I’m totally ordering one soon (and roping Kristin in to help me install it when it comes) and I’m excited to to get started.

There are plenty of avenues to pursue to make your space a little more interesting. We’re picking this one for now because it’s different than JUST hanging something up or displaying a new knick-knack. The change here is a bit more permanent and may require a bit more of an investment, so keep these things in mind before you go on an archway shopping spree.

To wrap things up, I included an archway how-to tutorial from the same company. They have a bunch of these for their different products.

When we decided to begin this design blog, we agreed that it would cover all different aspects of design. Today, we’re focusing in on web design, something both of us enjoy! Being large online shoppers, we take notice of many websites. A company’s website should be both appealing and user-friendly, and we know that we aren’t the first people to leave a company’s website if it’s unattractive. A website should help a company, not hurt it!

Here are some website design tips to help your website’s appearance

Find a happy balance. The text and images should be balanced. This allows for a symmetrical, clean and organized look. Balance is important throughout the whole website, but it’s especially important for the homepage. An unorganized and cluttered homepage can scare visitors away.

Fonts.There are so many fonts to choose from, but not all of them are readable. Along with being readable, the font should reflect the company’s brand and personality.

Color.Choose a color scheme, not every color. Just like the font, the colors should reflect the company’s brand and personality. If you decide on a dark color scheme, make sure the font colors are light enough to see. Take huemor.rocks for example, the website has dark colors in the background, but the white font stands out nicely. We also love the moving components!

Pictures.Use original pictures. Whether you take your own or hire a photographer, it’s best to have photos that are unique to the company. Plus, people respond well to visual content!

Videos.Create a video for your homepage. People love video content, it’s entertaining and engaging. Many company websites choose to create videos that answer who they are, what they do, etc.

In need of some tools, tips and tricks? Check out this video! Good luck to all

Welcome to blog post #1, we hope to impress you! Both of us will be contributing to this one, and we’re going to start with interior design. Let’s take a look inside our apartments!

Our Spaces

Kristin’s Apartment

Kristin here! I’m going to give you a little blog tour of my apartment and hopefully give you some interior design ideas.

In my small hallway, I placed a set of drawers for my shoes. I decided to turn it into a chair I could sit on while I put my shoes on. All I had to do was add a cushion and some pillows on top. It’s cozy, convenient and adorable. Every once in a while, I treat myself to some new throw pillows to change the look.

Here’s my kitchen space. I decided to go for a wooden table and white chairs. I feel as though it’s a clean and sophisticated look. My favorite part? The tulips. I always have a vase of fresh flowers right in the middle of my kitchen table, and my favorite will always be tulips! I even matched them to my orange/reddish seats. Next on the list for my kitchen is a new area rug, I’m looking to get one through Rug & Home, an online rug store. I want one that matches my seats.

Last but not least, my bedroom. It’s small, but boy is it cozy! I would like to get a full size bed, but for some reason I don’t think it would fit wedged between those two walls. Blue and yellow is one of my favorite color combinations. I admit it’s simple, but sometimes simplicity works.

Terry’s Apartment

I love red! That explains my big red carpet in my living area. I paired the rug with white furniture so that the red would pop. While I love my furniture and my carpet, my favorite part is my big window. It brings in the perfect amount of natural light, and I enjoy looking out the window as I drink my morning coffee. Let’s just hope I don’t spill it on my white furniture! I’m extra careful.

Here’s a close look at my bedroom. It’s sort of always a mess, but I wanted to show you the colors and my adorable light up nightstands. They’re spunky and fun! When it comes to my comforter, I love a good two tone, that’s why I went with this one.

I saved the best for last, my glass kitchen table with wicker chairs. These chairs are comfort and style wrapped into one! It’s my favorite place to have some tea and read a good book.

Our apartments may be small, but they are our homes. Don’t let the size of your apartment impact style. If you have a small apartment of your own, here are some ideas worth seeing: